Page 32 of Make Believe

His eyes search mine for a moment. “H-how long-term?”

I shrug. “At least a week. Maybe two.”

Maybe all summer.I don’t say that out loud, however, so as not to spook him. This might fizzle out after a few days of trying to navigate real-world obligations. But I want to give us the breathing room to at leasttry.

He nibbles on his lip. “How would that work?”

“Well,” I say with a grin. “I would indeed need to work, but I can do a lot of that from home. I can scale back the staff. We’ll mostly have the place to ourselves. I’d like you to stay here and keep me company.”

He swallows and frowns, his gaze flicking down to the ground before looking at me again. “I can’t work from home.”

That’s not a no. I like that he’s thinking this through practically.

“You said you weren’t fond of your job,” I prompt.

He scoffs. “Oh, I hate it. I just don’t know what else to do right now, and I have bills to pay.”

Excellent. Time to be exactly the kind of asshole people think I am.

“Quit. Tell them a better offer came along. If you’re just temping, I assume you don’t have to give any notice.”

His jaw drops. “Uh, yeah. I mean, no. No, I don’t have a notice period. At least I don’t think I do. But I do have rent and?—”

Cutting him off, I shake my head. “You’ll be doing a summer internship with me. As a personal assistant. I’ll set you up with a proper salary. Maybe even send you out to get coffee and do laundry from time to time.”

He’s still looking shell-shocked at me, so I wink to try and reassure him. He shakes himself like he’s coming back to his senses. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” he asks breathlessly.

I rub my thumb against his cheek, loving how he leans into the touch. “Kadence,” I say in all seriousness. “I’m not ready to let you go, yet. I can’t promise you anything beyond a few weeks. But I would very much like to explore more of this dynamic. You excite me in a way I’ve never experienced before. I’m not talking about a relationship or anything public. I’m talking about indulging in you for as long as I desire. If you could tolerate me for a little longer, it would mean a lot to me if you’d consider what I’m offering.”

For a minute or two, I watch him breathe. “You’d really pay me to stay here and be pretty for you?”

I can’t help but laugh. Trust him to cut to the heart of the issue. “Yes, baby doll. If that’s crossing a line for you?—”

“I didn’t say that,” he interrupts hotly. “There’s nothing wrong with sex work.”

“No, there’s not,” I agree. I’ve always had a more liberal attitude toward the world’s oldest profession than a lot of mypuritanical peers. As if most of the men I know haven’t indulged in paid pleasure at least once in their lives. Hypocrites.

“Until you get bored of me?” he clarifies.

I don’t mean to sound harsh, but the realist in me knows there is only a short lifespan for an arrangement like this. “Until we wish to part ways,” I say diplomatically. “At which point, I’ll write a glowing professional reference for you and have my executive assistant sign and swear to it.”

Audrey won’t mind. I’ve asked her to do far worse, I’m sure.

I still have one hand cupped against his face and the other is holding one of his. He uses his free one to rub his sternum as he looks out over the grass. Leaves rustle and the creek bubbles, providing a calm background to his decision-making process.

Honestly, it hadn’t really crossed my mind what I’d do if he said no. I appreciated he’d most likely think on it, but I was confident he’d say yes. Because I’m certain he wants this as much as I do. And he’d be a fool to turn down the kind of money I’m willing to give him.

My boy isn’t a fool.

So when he turns his gaze back my way and gives the smallest of nods, I’m not surprised, but I am extremely glad.

“Good boy,” I murmur, brushing my thumb over his cheekbone.

I want to kiss him. God, I want to kiss him.

Instead, I pull him into my lap and make short work of his underwear. We make love in the glorious sunshine, then spend the rest of the day lounging around eating, drinking, fucking, and reading. Kadence finishes his book.

We have time now.

---